Science in the Triangle

In Spent, players begin by choosing low-paying jobs to get them and their families through the month. | Image courtesy of McKinney

A new game from a Durham nonprofit is raising awareness about homelessness by challenging players to make a quickly dwindling bank account last a month.

Spent, developed by the advertising firm McKinney for Urban Ministries of Durham, puts players in the shoes of a jobless worker forced to make tough decisions about supporting a family with only $1,000 left. The text-based interface, which also employs a social media element, is designed to help users understand the causes of homelessness — and how close some people are to losing everything. Read more…